A. interrogative. In what way? in what manner?By what means?—as, how did he do it? how did you come?To what degree or extent? in what proportion or amount? by what measure or quantity?—qualifying an adverb or adjective of degree or quantity: as, how large was it? how far did you go? how many tickets did you get?In this use often exclamatory in form and affirmative in meaning.Such sentences also take in modern speech the affirmative form: as, how much better you are looking! how little you have changed! how stupid he is!In what state, condition, or plight?So colloquially, in reference to one's health or affairs: as, how do you do? how have you been? how's your family? he asked how you all were; how is business?At what price?—as, how do you sell your potatoes? how is wheat going now?For what reason ? why?To what effect? what? — with regard to a thing said or asked about, as when one asks an opinion or a repetition of a thing said and not understood: equivalent to the simple what?—as, how say you, gentlemen of the jury? How used alone, instead of what, is chiefly colloquial.With this use of how is connected its interjectional use, marking surprise, or being a mere greeting or call.In this use often with now: as, how now! what are you doing?B. relative. In what way; in what manner; the way or manner in which …: introducing a relative clause and performing the office of a conjunctional adverb.By what means; the means by which.To what degree or extent; in what proportion or amount; by what measure or quantity: qualifying an adverb or adjective: as, I do not know how large it is; I asked him how far he had traveled.In what state, condition, or plight.At what price: as, he inquired how the stocks were selling.For what reason; why.That: with reference to the manner, and also to the result: in objective clauses, after say, tell, relate, report, etc.Especially in combination: How that, that.As how, that.n. The manner of doing or becoming; way.n. A low hill: obsolete or dialectal, but retained in some place-names: as, Silver How, near Grasmere; Fox How.Hollow; deep or low.n. Any hollow place.n. The hold of a ship.n. A glen; a dell; also, a plain.To care.n. Care; anxiety.Careful.n. A Scotch form of houve.A syllable of salutation among various tribes of American Indians.
